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AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG

Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers. Over 1732 articles and counting!

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Celebrating 8 Years of Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples in the US!

Recent Articles

Connecticut becomes 9th state to ban child marriage, raises age to marry to 18 without exceptions

Connecticut becomes 9th state to ban child marriage, raises age to marry to 18 without exceptions

It's official: The legal age to marry in Connecticut is 18 years old, effective July 1, 2023. There are no exceptions for minors, making CT the 9th state to fully ban child marriage. The legislation was signed into law by acting Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz on June 23, 2023. Read the amended statute and what AMM Ministers who wish to officiate weddings in Connecticut need to know to solemnize marriage there.

Meet the Speakers for AMM’s NYC Wedding Officiant Education & Networking 2023 Seminar!

Meet the Speakers for AMM’s NYC Wedding Officiant Education & Networking 2023 Seminar!

Attention New York City area Wedding Officiants: Meet the speakers for our August 23, 2023 Education and Networking seminar! This fun and informative event features 4 AMM Ministers and professional officiants, with expert advice on how to start a successful officiant business, connect with new couples, vows and unity ceremony demonstrations, how to tell a compelling story during the wedding ceremony, and more. This event is open to all wedding officiants from the NYC, Newark, Jersey City area and beyond!

How to Get Married in Utah: Planning a Wedding in The Beehive State

How to Get Married in Utah: Planning a Wedding in The Beehive State

A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding and get married in Utah - including how to find a wedding officiant, choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and how to apply for and return your Utah marriage license.

New Script! Inclusive Catholic Wedding Script for LGBTQ+ Couples

New Script! Inclusive Catholic Wedding Script for LGBTQ+ Couples

New wedding script! This original wedding ceremony script is written for Catholic same-sex & LGBTQ+ couples who wish to marry in a ceremony that blends modern traditions and gender-neutral language with familiar elements from the traditional Catholic marriage rite. Written by experienced Catholic wedding officiant & AMM Minister Paul Tedesco, including prayers, scripture readings, a homily, unity candle lighting, nuptial blessing, and more.

Groom twirls the bride while dancing outdoors on their wedding day

How Much Does it Cost to Get Ordained Online in Texas?

Get ordained online free in Texas: Learn the best place to get ordained online for your budget and how to officiate a wedding in Texas today!

AMM’s 2023 Officiant Yearbook! The American Weddings Blog Year in Review

AMM’s 2023 Officiant Yearbook! The American Weddings Blog Year in Review

A look back at all the AMM Ministers, wedding officiants and celebrants, engaged couples, and other wedding professionals who shared their time, advice, wedding scripts, and personal stories on our American Weddings blog this year (June 2022 to June 2023). Thank you for being part of the AMM fellowship!

Survey Shows the “Threat” to Professional Officiants is Courthouse Weddings & High Costs, Not Online Ordination

Survey Shows the “Threat” to Professional Officiants is Courthouse Weddings & High Costs, Not Online Ordination

AMM surveyed 150 couples to see which type of officiant is most popular with newlyweds this year: a friend or family member ordained online, professional wedding officiants, clergy at a local brick-and-mortar church, or a clerk or judge in a courthouse wedding. The results show cost and convenience are important factors in deciding who will officiate your wedding, and can help vendors adjust to changes in the wedding industry.

Southern Baptist Convention expels two churches with women pastors, votes to amend constitution

Southern Baptist Convention expels two churches with women pastors, votes to amend constitution

The Southern Baptist Convention voted this week to expel Saddleback megachurch and Fern Creek Baptist because they have women pastors, and introduced an amendment to the church’s constitution that would explicitly restrict a woman from becoming ordained or holding a leadership position within the denomination.

Bride and groom hold hands during an outdoor wedding ceremony on the California coast, in the distance is sand and the ocean shore, with a blue sky above

How Much Does it Cost to Get Ordained Online in California?

How much does it cost to become an ordained minister online in California? Get ordained online free with AMM and learn how to officiate a wedding in California!

6 Officiant Tips for a Perfect Wedding Ring Exchange

6 Officiant Tips for a Perfect Wedding Ring Exchange

Six suggestions from professional wedding officiants to help you create a picture-perfect wedding ring exchange! Advice for officiants on how to choose creative wording, help the photographer get a great ring shot, save the day with a few fake rings in your emergency kit, what to do during a handfasting or marriage vow renewal ceremony, and more. Plan a fun and stress-free exchange of rings!

How to Include the Feet Washing Wedding Tradition in Your Ceremony (With a Sample Script for the Officiant)

How to Include the Feet Washing Wedding Tradition in Your Ceremony (With a Sample Script for the Officiant)

Celebrate the meaning and symbolism of the Christian feet washing wedding tradition, and learn how to include it in your marriage ceremony. A sample script with examples of what to say is provided for the wedding officiant. The ritual of washing feet at a wedding originates with a story in The Holy Bible, John 13:12-18, when Jesus washes the Disciples' feet as a sign of selfless love, humility, and forgiveness. A foot washing unity ceremony can be added to any Christian denomination wedding, along with biblical scripture reading and prayer.

How to Get Married in New York: Planning a Wedding in The Empire State

How to Get Married in New York: Planning a Wedding in The Empire State

A simple step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding and get married in New York - including how to find a wedding officiant to officiate, choose the best wedding venue, plan your ceremony, and how to apply for and return your New York marriage license.

More Recent Articles →

Asked to Officiate a Wedding?

Follow these simple steps to perform marriage for friends and family.

News Articles

Would You Sell Tickets to Your Wedding? A Curious New Tourism Trend in Indian Weddings…

Would You Sell Tickets to Your Wedding? A Curious New Tourism Trend in Indian Weddings…

A growing trend in wedding tourism: ticketed weddings for tourists. Join My Wedding is helping Indian couples sell tickets to tourists to attend their traditional Indian wedding ceremonies. Ticketed weddings might become popular in other countries and vacation destinations too, as a form of cultural tourism. So what do you think, would you be a wedding tourist?

Michigan bans child marriage, raises legal age to marry to 18

Michigan bans child marriage, raises legal age to marry to 18

You must be 18 years old to get married in Michigan. This week, Gov Whitmer signed legislation to ban the marriage of minors in the state, without exception. Michigan becomes the 10th state to fully ban child marriage. Learn more about the updated law, and how this change may impact AMM Ministers and other wedding officiants in the state. ( HB4294 , HB4295 , HB4296 , SB0212 , SB0209 2023 / Act 121, Act 122, Act 123)

How Filmmaker Nico Raineau Fell in Love with Writing Wedding Ceremonies

How Filmmaker Nico Raineau Fell in Love with Writing Wedding Ceremonies

Award-winning filmmaker and one-of-a-kind wedding officiant Nico Raineau is in the business of telling love stories. His officiant business RomCom Weddings takes center stage this year, as he performs stunning, cinematic-style custom weddings. Read his take on theme weddings, the Writers Guild of America strike, his upcoming romantic comedy film about professional wedding officiants, and more!  

More News Articles →

Ceremony Planning Articles

A young bride places the wedding ring on the groom's hand during a non-religious secular wedding ceremony. The officiant is behind the groom and can't be seen clearly. Both the bride and groom are smiling, wearing a white dress and a dark suit, with earrings and young alternative styles.

Who Can Officiate a Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony?

Looking for a non religious wedding officiant? There are several great officiant options to consider when planning a civil, secular, or non-religious wedding or elopement, including asking a friend or relative to get ordained online to officiate. Here's what you need to know to choose who will perform your wedding ceremony!

Cordón ilustrado atado en un nudo infinito para representar un ritual de unión único

Cómo Amarrar el Cordón en un Handfasting -- El Nudo Infinito

Una Ceremonia de Unión de Manos, Handfasting! Cómo hacer un nudo infinito durante la ceremonia de su boda. Siga estos diez sencillos pasos ilustrados. Un sencillo diagrama que muestra cómo atar el cordón durante una ceremonia única de unión de manos, para oficiantes de bodas, ministros o miembros de la familia.

Close up of a bride and groom posing on the wedding day outdoors in a snowy forest, they are holding a holiday wreath with red berries and white flowers, and wearing traditional formal wear.

How to Officiate a Christmas Wedding Ceremony

Learn how to officiate a Christmas wedding ceremony for the first time, including where to get ordained online, what questions to ask the couple, how to write a custom wedding ceremony script, how to complete the marriage license, and more!

More Ceremony Planning Articles →

Religion and Rituals Articles

More Religion & Rituals Articles →

Community Articles

Product image of AMM's gift box packaging, with the AMM logo of two gold rings and three blue stars, with the name 'American Marriage Ministries' printed below. A white product box against a bright yellow background

NEW! AMM Packaging for Two of Our Most Popular Gift Boxes

AMM's Signature Wedding Officiant Package and Will You Marry Us? Gift Box have new packaging! These boxes are packed with everything you need to officiate a wedding, and to ask a friend of family member to be your wedding officiant. From our Officiant Stole to your ordained minister credentials.

‘American Ministries’ or ‘American Marriage Ministries’ - Which one offers online ordination to officiate weddings?

‘American Ministries’ or ‘American Marriage Ministries’ - Which one offers online ordination to officiate weddings?

Learn about the differences between American Ministries and American Marriage Ministries (AMM), and about online ordination to become a minister to perform marriage for friends and family.

Update to Hawaii Marriage Laws: A Civil License to Solemnize Marriage

Update to Hawaii Marriage Laws: A Civil License to Solemnize Marriage

Learn about a new civil license to solemnize marriage in Hawaii, get access to current Hawaii marriage laws, and read how ministers ordained online through American Marriage Ministries can register to become wedding officiants in the state.

More Community Articles →
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